4th Graders visit San Juan Capistrano Mission

In December, Mt. Helix Academy 4th graders traveled by Amtrak train to Mission San Juan Capistrano. There they saw first hand what they had spent a month studying, including how missions were built and the way soldiers, priests, and Ajachamen Indians lived. Local diet and living conditions at the Mission were especially interesting to the students.

Students were excited to create their own Adobe bricks using natural resources and model molds. They were actively engaged in lessons by the docents and gained a deeper understanding of the Mission’s role in shaping California – and they had a blast doing it!

Catherine said: “My favorite part of the San Juan Capistrano field trip was the train ride there and the beautiful buildings and nature. I learned that they had to haul mud and dirt and water to their land, make adobe bricks out of it all, and then build their house.”

Brandon echoed: “I learned that when the Spanish arrived, they claimed the land as their own and didn’t treat the Ajachamen people fairly. My favorite part was making the adobe bricks. “

Piper was most frank, saying “I loved the train ride and walking around and observing the missions. I learned that they made adobe bricks using cow poop.”